Edwards is the team's backup punt returner, and he wants no part of the starting job because it's not an easy one.

Punt returning is one of the most difficult jobs on the football field. The punt returner is on his own, watching the ball and not even looking at the defenders who are coming at him trying to knock his head off.

Often, the punting team's gunners are on a returner as soon as he makes the catch.

"It's much easier to make the first guy miss when I'm catching the ball as a receiver," Gary said. "When I'm a punt returner, I've got to keep looking at the ball in the air, and I don't really know where they are."

From there, the punt returner has to make the first guy miss, which Georgia coach Mark Richt said is the most important part of a punt return.

And that's Gary's greatest skill.

"We don't worry about Damien too much," said quarterback David Greene. "If he doesn't make a fair catch, he's going to get some yards. I've been here three years, and I've never seen anyone tackle him on the first try. He's so elusive. He adds a spark to the team when he returns."

Gary celebrates with quarterback David Greene after they hooked up on a touchdown pass in the second quarter.John Curry/Staff

Gary's first-quarter 71-yard return for a touchdown Saturday sparked the Bulldogs' win over New Mexico State. The Bulldogs trailed 7-0 and weren't moving the ball on offensive until Gary's return.

And, as is his M.O., Gary made the first Aggie miss, and from there he was gone.

"It wasn't really a move, I just moved to the side and from there I saw everyone on a man and a big gap," Gary said. "The punter came up and I put on a move, and the rest is history."

Gary also had a 26-yard return called back on an illegal block. For the game, he had four returns for 94 yards.

"You can tell why he's one of the best in the country," New Mexico State's Robert Canidate said.

Gary came into the game as the Southeastern Conference's leading punt returner, and he likely will improve upon that this week. He is averaging 17.7 yards per return. The Georgia record is 15.7 by Scott Woerner in 1980.

"It's exciting to watch," Richt said. "I doubt anyone's getting popcorn around here any more when we go back to return a punt."